Combined bridge-floor



F. H. BEACH.

COMBINED BRIDGE FLOOR. APPLICATION FILED DEC.26. 191 9.

Patented y 26, 1921.

m x kw anew/"up FITCH H. BEACH, 0F CHARLOTTE, MICHIGAN.

COMBINED BRIDGE-FLOOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 26', 1921.

Application filed December 26, 1919. Serial No. 347,310.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fi'ron H. BEACH, a citizen of the United States, residin': at Charlotte, in the county of Eaton and tate of Michigan, have invented a new and use ful Combined Bridge-Floor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in flooring construction, and more particularly to a flooring construction to be employed in connection with highway bridges.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary flooring adapted for use in connection with light bridge construction and one which will be capable of supporting concrete, or asphalt, usually employed in road construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of this character which will support the asphalt, and which means insures against the concrete or asphalt working through between the elements of the sup port, and absolutely prevents creeping of the asphalt along the flooring of the bridge.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a flooring made up of a plurality of sections to be laid on the usual bridges, thus eliminating the necessity of building an entire new structure and consequently reducing the length of time that the bridge is closed to trafiic, to a minimum.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 illustrates an end elevational view of one of the bridge sections, the same being shown as applied to the bridge structure,

Fig. 2 illustrates a sectional view through adjacent sections, and

Fig. 3 illustrates a fragmental plan view of abutting ends of sections.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designates one of the transverse floor beams, employed in the usual bridge construction, a bridge being formed of a plurality of such floor beams,

supported in spaced relation with each other, and retained in such position by the standards 6, or other suitable elements, according to the type of bridge.

Extending longitudinally of the bridge, and supported on the floor beams 5, are the t ansversely spaced I beams 7, the lower portlons thereof being shown as resting on the upper surfaces of the floor beams 5, the upper surface of each of the I beams 7 supporting the base, or floor support 8.

Thls base 8, is formed of a plurality of boards 9 and 10 extending transversely of the br dge, and disposed on the I beams 7, edgewise, or in a position so that the opposed side faces of adjacent boards, will contact with each other, the boards 10 forming a part of the base 8 being wider than the boards 9 thereof, so that when the boards are arranged in operative position, recessed portlons 11 will be formed throughout the width of the bridge to which the same is applied.

The boards 9 and 10, forming the base 8 are secured together by means of the relatively long bolts 12, which pass through registering openings in the boards 9 and 10, and secured therein by means of the nuts 13 operating on the threaded ends of the bolts 12.

In the construction of the bridge, the flooring is preferably formed of a plurality of sections of equal widths, the sections be ing provided with a block 14, which as shown, is spaced from the lower edge of the section and a block 15, which has its lower edge 1n alinement with the lower edge of the base 8, so that an overlapping joint is provided at the adjacent edges of sections, so that the covering, supported by the base 8, and to be hereinafter more fully described, will not work through between adjacent sections.

Each of the sections, is also provided with spaced steel plates 16 secured along one of the sides thereof, and each of these plates is provided with a cut out portion 1.7 to embrace the respective I beams 7, so that lateral movement of the sections with relation to the frame of the bridge construction will be absolutely prevented, but ,at the same time these plates 16, support the sections in suitable spaced relation with each other, to permit of movement of one section with relation to the other, to compensate for expansion and contraction of the flooring, due

to heat and cold. Staples or bolts 18, are provided for securing the plates 16 to the sections, so that the same will move with the bridge sections.

Securing staples l9, straddle the connection between adjacent sections, the staples including depending arms 20, which are embedded in the surfaces of opposed sections, and as shown, the staples are arranged at angles with relation to each other, so that the securing qualities thereof are greatly in creased.

A flooring constructed of a plurality of sections as shown, presents a surface including a plurality of spaced recesses for supporting the asphalt, concrete, tar, or other road dressings employed in road construction, the dressing, finding its way between the extended ends of the boards 10, thus anchoring itself to the flooring or base 8.

Longitudinally extending guard strips 21, are disposed adjacent the side edges of the flooring or base 8, and prevents lateral movement of the flooring or dressing, with relation to the base and frame work of the bridge, drain openings 22 being provided in the flooring, to carry oli the water, before the same contacts with the guard strips 21.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is In combination with a bridge construction including transverse floor beams, I beams supported by the floor beams and disposed in parallel relation, sectional flooring, steel plates carried by the sectional flooring, each steel plate having a cut out portion adapted to embrace a portion of the I beam associated therewith, and each of said sections having a recessed upper surface to accommodate a surfacing material.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FITCH H. BEACH.

lVitnesses A. J. TILTON, ALBERTA KNOWLES. 

